FY2011 Annual Report

May 13, 2011

Governor Nixon, Senator Mayer and Representative Tilley:

I am proud to share with you the Records Services Division Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11). This Division consists of three units: Missouri State Archives, Local Records Preservation Program, and State Records Management Program. These three units work collaboratively to preserve government records and make them available to the citizens of Missouri. The Division's success is evident in the release of new historical resources, creation of educational programs, and financial and technical assistance provided to citizens and public officials throughout the state.

The Missouri State Archives is committed to fostering an appreciation of our common past through increased access to historical records and educational opportunities. The Archives continues to provide free public programming through its Thursday Evening Speakers Series, touring exhibits, and Archives Alive!, an interactive history-based theatrical performance for fourth and fifth grade students.

During FY11, the Archives continued to add digitized records, educational resources, research guides, and other resources to its award-winning website, www.MissouriDigitalHeritage.com. Such accomplishments and ongoing projects have made the Missouri State Archives a leader in online historical research. In addition, Family Tree Magazine once again recognized the Archives' website as one of the best in the country

The Local Records Preservation Program helps county and municipal governments preserve their records and make them accessible to the public. Local Records field archivists provide in-depth records consultations, helping public officials inventory records, dispose of extraneous documents, create computerized indexes, and preserve and microfilm records of historical value. During FY11, field archivists consulted with officials in county, court, and city offices and county archives and historical societies across the state to help improve the organization of records. Local Records projects currently underway continue to reveal previously unknown information dating to the territorial period. The Local Records Preservation Program also has the state's only publicly-funded conservation laboratory for paper-based documents.

The State Records Management Program promotes the efficiency and continuity of state government by providing state agencies with the resources necessary to manage their records effectively. Staff members help state agencies develop guidelines for the retention of documents, offer training on records management, and provide off-site storage. During FY11, the State Records Center accepted 25,585 cubic feet of records for off-site storage. Acting on behalf of state agencies, the staff recycled over 10,469 cubic feet of records that had met their legal retention requirements.

I am pleased to lead a Division whose efforts are of such benefit to the state and its taxpayers. The Records Services Division places a priority on the "public" in public records. In focused and creative ways, the Division is efficiently delivering public records into the hands and onto the computer screens of our citizens and government officials. This report highlights the achievements mentioned above and many others. I invite you to take a closer look at the Records Services Division and discover where the history of our state begins.